Scratch Map® Poster Inspiration: Russia

Russia is full of historical and cultural flavour – and Team Luckies are keen to have a taste. To satisfy our appetites (and our irrepressible urge to mark off as many places as we can on our Scratch Maps), we’ve served up a list of must-dos for the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Enjoy.

Settled in the beating heart of Moscow, the historic grounds of Red Square are sure to leave you more than a little bit impressed. Its rectangular stretch of cobbles are surrounded by architectural gems, including The Lenin Mausoleum, The Kremlin and GUM, the largest department store in Russia. At the far end of the Red Square, you’ll find the colourful domes of the 16th century Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed – one the city’s most recognizable sights.

Get suited and booted for a night at the ballet in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. For over 300 years, the palatial, six-tier auditorium has played host to premier music and dance productions from a wealth of Russian and foreign companies. With its magnificent interiors, glittering mouldings and jaw-dropping set design, the Bolshoi Theatre offers a truly spectacular night out on the town.

Take a soak in the Sanduny Baths, the oldest and most luxurious public baths – or banya – in the capital. Once an exclusive enclave for male aristocrats, the baths are now open to anyone who is happy to sweat out the grit of the city, inflict themselves to birch leaf beatings (it’s more relaxing than it sounds, promise) and plunged into ice-cold water.

Next, head off to Palace Square in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. You’ll be awe-struck by the 18th century , baroque-style Winter Palace, the Roman-inspired General Staff Building, and the Alexander Column, carved from a single red granite slab at 47m high. Pretty impressive.

If you visit St Petersburg in the winter, be sure to head to one of the city’s parks for a spot of ice skating. The largest open-air skating rink is in the botanical gardens of Aptekarsky Ogorod, while a far more cosier option can be found in Tavrichesky Garden, one of the oldest parks in the city.

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